The emperor faked his death? Never mind, I will ascend the throne directly!

Li Chengfeng would definitely not like someone who might send someone to assassinate him.

His decision to live in the government office was also a huge risk.

If Lu Wen really wanted to kill him, being so close would give him more opportunities.

After thinking for a while, Li Chengfeng decided to take a nap to recuperate.

I was very nervous on the way here and haven't had a good rest.

At this time, Zhao Sheng was struggling with Ma Liuzi.

Ma Liuzi agreed to help Zhao Sheng and his servant contact their superiors and give him the position of magistrate of Dongfu County.

We also agreed to come to the dental clinic after noon the next day to discuss follow-up matters.

After returning to his residence, Zhao Sheng sent people to keep an eye on Ma Liuzi's every move, not missing any details.

At noon the next day, Zhao Sheng and the master and servant dressed as followers came to Ma Liuzi as agreed.

When they got inside, the 'young master' immediately asked excitedly, "When can I take office?"

Looking at the master and servant with expectant eyes, Ma Liuzi sighed and said, "The situation has been tense lately. I'm afraid your matter will have to be postponed."

Upon hearing this, the young master was furious: "I've already paid the money and you're telling me the job hasn't been done?"

"This is not something I can do alone. If the superiors say it's not possible, then it's not possible." Ma Liuzi explained.

"Who is your boss? Let's go find him." The master and servant were very angry.

"He won't see you, so give up on this idea." Ma Liuzi also got angry.

"Then return the silver to us." the servant shouted angrily.

Throwing down a piece of broken silver, Ma Liuzi said, "Here, take the silver. If you continue to make trouble here, you won't be able to leave."

"You!" The young master wanted to say something, but the servant pulled him, picked up the silver and ran away quickly.

"Hmph, you want to fight me!" Ma Liuzi spat in disdain.

After pulling his companion for a long distance, Zhao Sheng finally let go and said, "Our mission is to connect with this line and slowly follow the clues to investigate them. There's no need to get angry."

The follower said, "Boss, I just feel bad about losing that money. They are too arrogant!"

"When the matter is investigated thoroughly and they have suffered, let's go." After saying this, Zhao Sheng returned to his residence with his entourage.

Just then, Ji Ye came back and reported Ma Liuzi's whereabouts to Zhao Sheng.

It is clear what time I met whom.

It turned out that after learning that His Majesty was in Jiangnan, those corrupt officials had restrained themselves and no longer dared to do bad things openly.

The two discussed for a while, and Zhao Sheng ordered Ji Ye to continue tracking Ma Liuzi's boss.

The practice of selling official positions and titles is so rampant here, they must have a strict organization.

The higher the status in the organization, the more opportunities one has to come into contact with important people.

Zhao Sheng, who was sorting out evidence of selling official positions, suddenly saw a carrier pigeon perched on the window frame and hurriedly got up to pick up the note.

Seeing that Li Chengfeng had arrived in Zezhou, he quickly passed on the message and told his companions that he would go to meet up with His Majesty first.

After doing all this, Zhao Sheng packed his bags and went to Zezhou government office.

Seeing the iron pillar guarding the door, Zhao Sheng happily stepped forward to greet him.

"Brother Tiezhu, did you have a smooth journey?"

"It's okay, brother Zhao Sheng. Are you all right?" Tiezhu was also very happy. Now that Zhao Sheng was here, everyone could work together again.

"Where is His Majesty?" Zhao Sheng asked after the greetings.

"Come in, everyone."

Tiezhu, who was about to answer, heard Li Chengfeng's voice and hurriedly took Zhao Sheng into the room.

Zhao Sheng walked quickly into the room, knelt on one knee, and presented a stack of files and a small bamboo tube with both hands.

"Your Majesty, I have uncovered some new evidence of corruption and bribery among officials in Jiangnan. Also, this is a secret letter intercepted from the leg of a carrier pigeon."

Li Chengfeng took the file and glanced through it. It was filled with dense records of names, time, place and amount, which was shocking.

"Thank you for your hard work," he said in a steady tone. He put the file aside, picked up the bamboo tube again, gently pulled out the fine cloth stuffed in it, and poured out a very thin piece of paper rolled up.

Unfolding the note, Li Chengfeng read it carefully.

As he read deeper, his brows furrowed and his eyes grew fiercer.

Zhao Sheng raised his head slightly and observed Li Chengfeng's expression, feeling a little uneasy.

He knew that the content of this secret letter must be very important and might involve a larger conspiracy.

After a while, Li Chengfeng rolled up the note again and put it back into the bamboo tube.

"This secret letter mentioned Lu Wen, the governor of Zezhou," he tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound.

"Zhao Sheng, secretly investigate the relationship between Lu Wen and the local officials. Remember, be cautious and don't alert the enemy."

Zhao Sheng accepted the order, bowed and retreated, quickly disappearing out the door.

Soon, a guard came in and reported: "Your Majesty, the governor of Zezhou, Lu Wen, requests an audience."

"Call him in." Li Chengfeng returned to the desk and sat down, his expression calm, as if nothing had happened.

A moment later, Lu Wen, dressed in his official uniform, walked into the room with steady steps and bowed respectfully: "Your humble servant Lu Wen pays respect to Your Majesty."

Looking at the calm Lu Wen, Li Chengfeng nodded slightly, "Master Lu, please don't be polite."

"I have made this incognito visit to Jiangnan to understand the people's sentiments. The people of Zezhou live and work in peace and contentment. Lord Lu governs well, and I am very pleased."

Lu Wen remained calm and said, "Your Majesty, I am deeply ashamed to accept your praise."

Li Chengfeng picked up a brocade box and handed it to Tie Zhu beside him.

"This is a small gift from me, given to you, Lord Lu, in recognition of your contributions to the people of Zezhou."

"Master Lu, take it." Tiezhu said in a muffled voice.

Looking at the brocade box in front of him, Lu Wen suddenly knelt down and said, "I feel ashamed to accept this."

Lu Wen's actions confused Li Chengfeng: "My dear, why are you saying that?"

"I have not fulfilled my responsibility as an official to care for the people." Lu Wen rested his head on the ground, as if he had no strength to lift it up.

Hearing this, Li Chengfeng instantly realized that this Lord Lu might not be as simple as he imagined.

He must have some unknown secrets.

"My dear minister, please stand up first. I have something I want to show you." After saying that, Li Chengfeng asked Tiezhu to take out the token.

When Lu Wen took the token and looked at it, he was surprised for a moment.

Li Chengfeng observed Lu Wen's expression changes calmly.

"Master Lu," Li Chengfeng said gently, "Do you recognize this object?"

"Your Majesty, this is my token." Lu Wen said in a low voice.

"But I don't know why it appeared in your Majesty's hands?"

"Our Majesty encountered an assassin at the border of Zezhou, and your token was pinned on the assassin's waist. Lord Lu, do you plead guilty?" Tiezhu's face was full of anger.

With a bang, Lu Wen knelt before Li Chengfeng again. "The token is indeed mine, but I am not the one who sent the assassin to kill Your Majesty!"

Looking at Lu Wen, who was anxiously trying to explain himself but remained calm, Li Chengfeng simply said, "How can I trust you?"

"To murder the emperor is a serious crime punishable by the death of nine generations of your clan. If you don't explain clearly, I will have no choice but to chop you off."